Toothbrush



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. J. JANIK TOOTHBRUSH Feb. 20, 1934.

Filed March 21 193s Feb. 20, 1934. J. J. JAN|K 1,948,233

Filed March 21 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I mlm/'Mr ttorney Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE Application March 21,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to dental accessories and equipment, and has more particular reference to a unique accessory constituting a supplemental part of a toothbrush, and conceived with the thought in mind of providing the trade with an innovation in the nature of a tooth exerciser. I

It is submitted that modern dietetic fads now generally prevailing and followed by many people divest the human teeth and gums of certain important strength developing functions. To be rugged and strong, I advocate, as do many experts, the subjection of the teeth to firm biting pressure for the purposes of needed exercise lost by failure to chew substantial foods.

Taking advantage of the now established custom of utilizing individual toothbrushes for daily tooth preservation purposes, and having in mind the need for a simple and practical mechanical exerciser, I have equipped the improved toothbrush with the novel exerciser constituting the gist of the present invention.

In perfecting the preferred embodiment of the invention, I have evolved and produced a simple and economical structural refinement which may be added to the toothbrush as a supplemental feature without materially increasing the cost of manufacture and sale, whereby to provide the user with a convenient and a safe means recommended for use as an exercising and strength promoting feature.

The particular construction elected to perform in the capacity stated, will become more clearly evident from the following detailed description and the accompanying illustrative drawings. In the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the different views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an assembly perspective view of the tension regulating device or unit.

Figure 5 is a section on the plane of the line 5 5 of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the reinforcing spring leaves or strips.

Figures 7, 8 and 9, are transverse cross-sectional views taken approximately on the planes of the lines '7-7, 8 8, and 9-9 respectively of Figure 3.

1933. Serial No. 661,987

Referring now to the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, it will be observed that the numeral 10 designates what may be designated as a toothbrush of conventional shape and proportion. The body 11 of the brush is constructed of conventional hard elastic materials prepared from guncotton, camphor, etc., sometimes generally referred to in the trade as Celluloid The head of the brush is provided with customary bristles 12.

The principal distinction in this brush is predicated upon the means constituting a part of the handle which may be broadly designated as a mechanical exerciser. Briefly, this means may be comprehended as yieldably resistant to pressure and characterized by tension regulating means and appropriate grips 17. Specifically, it may be said to comprise a pair of upper and lower spaced parallel companion arms 13 and 14 respectively, the arm 13 being a continuation of the main body of the brush and the arm 14 being formed integral therewith and connected thereto through the instrumentality of an appropriately proportioned connective jointing web 15.

Embedded in each arm is a spring steel leaf or plate 16 of appropriate shape and dimension. This is preferably centrally located in the arm as illustrated in the drawings.

The free end portions of the arms are provided on their tooth gripping surfaces with inlaid grips of. the plan configuration illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and preferably constructed of compressible anti-slipping material such as moisture proofed leather, rubber compound, or the like. Manifestly, these grips are intended to be placed at right angles between the upper and lower sets of teeth to permit the user to close down thereon in order to obtain the desired resilient pressure-resistant exercising action.

It is desired to govern or regulate the tension of these arms 13 and 14 in order to acquire the requisite sensitivity and exercising results. This is done through the use of a manually adjusted regulating unit comprising a slide block 17 and adjusting means therefor. The latter means comprises a feed screw 18 anchored at one end in the block and having its opposite end threaded into the internally screw-threaded socket of a turnbolt or hollow pin 19. The bolt is reduced as at 20 to provide a trunnion which is rotatable in a bearing hole formed in the web 16. The operating end of the journal is iid,

provided with a thumb knob or grip 21 for convenience of manipulation.

It is clear that by adjusting the block 17 in or out the resiliency or tension of the arms may be scientifically governed.

The incorporation in a toothbrush of this exercising device adds greatly to the utility of the brush and co-ordinates the features so that the user may successfully exercise the teeth and subsequently clean the teeth.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the illustrative drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of the purpose, features and advantages, the explicit construction, and the invention as hereinafter claimed.

It is to be understood that minor changes in shape, size, relative proportions, and materials may be resorted to in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as now claimed.

I claim:

l. In a structure of the class described, a pair of spaced parallel resilient pressure-resistant ,j arms formed at their free ends with anti-slipping tooth grips, and means between said arms for regulating the tension thereof, said means comprising a slidabie block, a feed screw attached to the block, and operating rneans for the feed screw.

2. An exercising device of the class described comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient arms, a web connecting the arms together at one end, inlaid tooth grips attached to the outer faces of the arms at the free ends thereof, a slidable blockv interposed between said arms for regulating the resiliency thereof, a feed screw attached to said block, and adjusting means mounted for rotation in the aforesaid connecting means and operatively connected with said screw.

3. An exercising device of the class described comprising a body having a shank, one end portion of the shank forming a handle and embodying an inlaid steel spring defining an exercising arm, a second arm arranged in spaced paral1e1- ism below said first arm, and including a like spring, means connecting said arms together, tooth grips carried by the free end portions of the arms, a tension adjusting block for saidA arms located between said arms, and a feed screw attached to said block and Varms to position the block at different points between the arms.

JOHN J. JANIK. 

